Properpreparation of the lawn for winteris extremely important if we want the turf to withstand the winter cold and quickly return to good shape in spring. Is it very complicated? No, if you read this manual. It is enough to perform 7 simple lawn treatments for your lawn to overwinter. Meet my proven wayhow to prepare a lawn for winter !
Preparing the lawn for winter
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Preparing the lawn for winter. Why is it so important?
" In early spring, I wrote about how to regenerate your lawn after winter. We advised what to do if, after the snow melts, our lawn does not resemble last year&39;s splendor in any way. Weathered grass, losses of turf resulting in bald patches, or mycelial bloom (so-called snow mold) are the most common problems on the lawn in early spring. It&39;s even worse when it turns out that our lawn is fond of moles … All this can make lawn owners dizzy! "
"If you want to avoid such an unpleasant early spring surprise, take to heart the content of the proverb - prevention is better than cure and take care ofproper preparation of the lawn for winterHere are 7 simple autumn treatments that will be effectivethey will protect your lawn and reduce the likelihood of winter damage to the turf "
1. Fertilizing the lawn in the fall
By properly fertilizing the lawn in the fall in the fall, we canincrease the resistance of the turf to negative temperatures First of all, we eliminate any nitrogen fertilization from the beginning of September. Nitrogen stimulates plant growth and delays the transition to winter dormancy. A lawn fertilized with nitrogen during the autumn can be seriously damaged when the first frosts come.
In September, however, it is worth usingpotassium and phosphorus fertilization, which increase the grass resistance to frostS alt can be used potassium (about 1 kg / 100 m2 of lawn) and phosphate rock flour. Some people also choose ready-made autumn fertilizers for lawns. Such autumn fertilizer for the lawn, with an optimally selected composition for this season of the year, makes it much easierpreparation of the lawn for winterRemember to mow before applying the fertilizer, and water the turf well after spreading the fertilizer.
2. Last lawn mowing before winter
It is very important to make the last mowingIf the grass is cut too short, it will be exposed to freezing of the roots, and if cut too high, it will be exposed to the development of fungal pathogens and will grow back less in spring. The optimal height for the last mowingis around 4 cm.
And when to do this treatment? The timing depends on the weather conditions. As a rule,the last lawn mowing before winterin our climate should be done in the second half of October. However, if autumn is warm and cooling comes later than usual, this treatment can be postponed even to the beginning of November. Ifmowing the lawn before winterwas done too early and the warm weather caused the grass to grow high, the mowing must be repeated.
3. Removing fallen leaves from trees
"Another important thing isregular removal of fallen leaves from treesFalling leaves shade the lawn in autumn, which reduces its durability. Worse, damp leaves pressed under a blanket of snow cut off the oxygen supply to the turf and cause the lawn to rot. Therefore, it is necessary to rake the leaves regularly.It is best to rake leaves from the lawn with a special leaf rakeor the so-calleda broomstick that has wide-set teeth made of mild steel. Thanks to such rakes, the lawn is groomed lightly and efficiently.
If you have a large lawn and raking leaves takes too much time, an electric or petrol vacuum cleaner for leaves will be helpful. Preferably with a bag attached to collect them and with a shredding function. After shredding, the volume of such chopped leaves is much smaller. Then it is not only easier to store them, but also the leaves thrown into the composter, they will recompost much faster.If we do not have a composter, mowed grass and rake leaves can be composted in plastic bags. For this purpose, mix the leaves and grass (you can also add other green waste from the garden), pour them into bags and tie them. To ensure air access in the bags, holes should be made with a knife or a sharp stick. In order to have mature compost ready for use in the garden by spring, it is worth adding Trigger-4 compost to the bags.It contains bacteria and enzymes that significantly accelerate the composting process. "
4. Lawn aeration before winter
Anothertreatment that helps keep the lawn in good condition over the winteris the autumn aeration, i.e. aeration of the lawn. This procedure should be performed a little earlier than the last mowing or raking of the leaves. The autumn lawn aeration is best done in September. During aeration, the soil beneath the grass is loosened, allowing more oxygen to reach the grass roots. Also, felt and moss are removed, which, if left for the winter, would favor the development of snow mold and other fungal diseases of the grass.
A liquid aerator can also be used to aerate and improve soil loosening under the lawn.It is a type of lawn conditioner containing beneficial microorganisms. They improve the water-air relations in the soil, prevent its compaction, and accelerate the decomposition of the remnants of dried blades, which are harmful to the grass, forming a layer of the so-calledfelt.
5. Liming the lawn before winter
If there was moss or horsetail on the lawn, it is worth measuring the pH of the soil. The soil pH recommended for lawns is 6.0 to 7.0. If the pH is lower, which promotes the growth of moss and horsetail, it is worth liming the lawn. Liming is best carried out in early spring (February to March) or in autumn - from October to early November.For lawn liming in autumnit is best to use calcium carbonate fertilizer such asdolomite and fertilizer chalk
Note!
Other fertilizers must not be applied simultaneously with liming. You should keep a few weeks away from liming until another fertilization treatment.
6. Protection of the lawn against moles
Before winter comesit's also good to discourage mole visits to the garden.The activity of these animals increases in autumn (late October), when they prepare to survive the winter, and in spring, when numerous larvae and grubs, which are a delicacy of moles, appear in the fertile and moist soil. The appearance of numerous molehills may therefore be an unpleasant surprise for us when we come to the plot in the spring. It is therefore worth using mole repellants, available in garden stores. Home remedies for the mole, such as bottles placed on stakes, will also be helpful. The vibrations caused by them during gusts of wind will be felt and unpleasant for the mole.
7. Finally - a real secret!
To crown ourlawn preparation for winter , there is one more thing worth doing. Performing this procedure is much less popular. It is a pity, because thanks to it the lawn will regenerate much faster after the winter. What are we talking about? Well, around mid-November it is worth carrying out organic fertilization with manure.It is especially useful on lawns mowed with mowers with collectors for mowed grass. Organic fertilizers perfectly compensate for the lack of a wide range of elements that are not present in mineral fertilizers.
However, this treatment done too early can stimulate the growth of the grass and weaken it before winter comes. That is why we make itonly when the grass is already frozenWe use well-composted manure or granulated manure available in stores. We spread it evenly in a thin layer on the surface of the frozen lawn. In winter and in the early spring, manure ingredients will penetrate the soil and feed the turf throughout the growing season. In the first year after applying the manure, the lawn will not require any other fertilization. However, we only use this treatment once every 3 or 4 years.
Note!The application of organic fertilization in the fall may increase the activity of moles. Do not use this treatment if your lawn has been damaged by moles in recent years.
